New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-24
THE Ass EMILY DOES ITS DUTY.

The Crosby High-Lcersc bill passed its final
stage yesterday in the Assembly by vote OF
70 to Sc. With a single exception, namely,
Stevens. Of Schoharie Democrat, every vote
recorded on the final passage in the affirmative
was Republican. Four Republicans only,
namely, Gallagher, of Erie; Reitz, of Brook
Ign Charles Smith, of New York and Maurer,
of Rochester, voted against the BILL 1t will DO
well to remember the names of those four AS
semblymen, as the only members of the Re
publican party in the Legislature who defed
public opinion and were willing to proclaim
themselves the abject tools Of the rum power.
The vote was significant otherwise. The House
was full one only two members out OF lbs
being absent and they having been excused
on account of sickness. OF the siXty-iive Re-
publicans who voted for the bill on its third
reading sixty three stood Loyalty to their duty,
and two Gallagher and Maurcr-failed in 1t.
Of the seven Republican members who were
absent on the third reading six voted for it
on the final passage, and the seventh, Evans,
of Oneida, was absent by reason of illness. Thus
sixty-nine Republican votes were cast for the
bill, and one Democratic vote. The Democrats
without caucus. have in this manner made
Free Rum a party Issue, and they must take
the consequences.
The Republicans in the Assembly have done
we'll and indicated their faithfulncss and
trustwcrthiness They have been subjected to
strong temptations, to every seductive influence
the rumsellcrs could command, to threats OF
political vengeance TO the formidable menace
of the hostility of the saloon in politics. IL Is
greatly TO their credit that they withstood all
these influences. For it must be realized that
this was no make believe contest no mere
fencing-match between men with private
understanding. The rum power knows well
that High License is an attack upon its vital
ty. and from the outset it has fought with
determined energy. Nor can its real power be
ignored There would be no such general de-
mand for restrictive legislation did not the
audacous dospotism of the saloon In politics
outrage and disgust the decent sentiment OF
the public. II was to curb this demoralizlng
and depravng agency that the Crosby bill was
introduced, and the fact had to he faced thai
in striking this first blow the whole organized
force Of those who profted by the abuse must
bc encountered and dcfcd by the supporters of
reform True the plain duty of the Rcpub-
lcans was to accept and champion the bill, but
duties are not always easy or coStless, and tins
one unqucstonably called for an amount and
kind of resolution by no means common among
politicians trained in saloon traditions. III
was, in fact strong test to apply to any
Legislature and the Republicans at Albany have
met it most creditably to themselves.
The Democrats, with characteristic fatuity.
allowed themselves to he paraded rs the stanch
and tried friends Of the rum power. Their
record on the Hgh-Lcense bill so far Is
pitiful one. A single Democratic vote. isolated
and lonely, stands up among the throng Of
negatives in support Of the measure. Fifty
two Democratic votes against the bill; one
Democratic vote for it, There could not have
been sharper contrast. In the final debate the
Democrats tried to earn the thanks of the rum
sellers by attempting to introduce all manner
of amendments intended TO weaken or kill the
bill. OF course. there was no deception
in these transparent subtcrfugcs. SIN vain
the fowler spreads his nets in the sight Of any
bird" The Democrats were there TO obay
orders. and their orders were to vote againFl
the High-Li bill, first. lat, and all thc
time. Curiously enough, the Prohibitonsts, and
especially those of the third party kind occuA
pied the gallery and prayed for the defeat 81
the bill that is, for the success Of the rum
sellers. But the faithfulncss of the Repub
licans carried the day, and the Crosby bill goe'
TO the Senate. which will undoubtedly follow
the example of the Assembly, pass 1t, and send
it TO Governor Hill. So far the rum power ha>
been beaten and to the extent Of the Repub-
lican party's jurisdiction it will continue to be.
What Governor Hill Will do with his great OPP
portunity when it comes 10 him remains 10 be
seen.